Jivin J’s Life Links 1-7-11
by JivinJ, host of the blog, JivinJehoshaphat
- Dr. Drew Pinsky has indicated that MTV’s No Easy Decision abortion special made him uncomfortable:
“The topic makes me uncomfortable,” Pinsky admitted Thursday at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena. “But the paradigm there is I felt the conversation was worth having. You have to let the conversation occur.”
- Both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal covered a gathering of religious leaders who called for a new effort to lower the abortion rate in NYC where 41% of pregnancies end in abortion. From the Times:Archbishop Dolan said abortion statistics in NY indicated that it was unlikely that the practice would soon end. But, he added: “We have to tell people what is happening here. I’m frankly embarrassed to be a member of a community where 41% of pregnancies are terminated.”
- … The gathering of the religious leaders was coordinated by a 2-year-old organization called the Chiaroscuro Foundation, a nonprofit group financed privately by its president, Sean Fieler (left), an investment banker who supports religious and conservative causes.
- Researchers at UC San Diego and the Scripps Research Institute have discovered embryonic stem cell lines and induced pluripotent stem cells have more genetic abnormalities than other types of cells:ES cells tended to have duplications in the genome, while iPS cells were more likely to have deletions. The scientists located specific regions in the genome where the abnormalities were likeliest to arise. In ES cells, the duplications were near pluripotency-associated genes – the ones that allow the cells to turn into any other kind of cell in the body. In iPS cells, duplications involved cell proliferation genes, and deletions involved tumor suppressor genes.
The danger of such genetic abnormalities? They are often associated with cancers, said senior author Jeanne F. Loring, in a news release.
“We don’t know yet what effects, if any, these genetic abnormalities will have on the outcome of basic research studies or clinical applications,” said the study’s lead author, UCSD professor Louise Laurent. “We need to find out.”
Until they do, don’t expect an explosion of ES- or iPS-based cures for disease.
Mr. Fieler said the event was prompted by the release last month of city health department statistics showing a 41% rate of abortion overall in 2009, including a rate close to 60% for black women.
Jan.07, 2011 1:00 pm |
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Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
It made you uncomfortable, “Dr” Drew? Why do you think that is? Why do you think abortion would be an upsetting topic? Surely, having your tonsils removed isn’t so upsetting. It is hardly troublesome to have a tooth extraction. So why would a ‘safe & easy’ extraction of a ‘bunch of cells’ through abortion be any different? It couldn’t possibly be because you know what you’re supporting, could it? It couldn’t possibly be because you are a hack parading around as a medical professional, encouraging young women to do something that you know to be wrong. That you know is the butchering of her children. That you know she will regret-with good cause.
Shame on you!
In regards to the article about embryonic stem cells & iPS cells, can someone explain to me the difference between iPS cells and other adult stem cells? I thought pluripotent stem cells were the morally sound option, but this article is throwing me off. I’m off to try and work this out on the interwebs, but if anyone who knows sees this comment, I’d love a little info!
It is tragic that the best Archbishop Dolan can come up with is that he is “embarrassed” by the high rate of killing unborn children in New York.
I find it absolutely distressing the Church’s lack of regard for the unborn and its almost complete inability to launch any kind of serious effort to fight the evil of prenatal homicide the last four or five decades.
Joe,
Familiar with Fr. Frank Pavone? Priests for Life? Gospel of Life Ministries? Life on the Line? Seminarians for Life? Deacons for Life? The Gabriel Project? The Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities? … to name a few…
Thank you, MaryRose. My church has a big sign out front for the Gabriel Project. And don’t forget all the great pro-life programming on EWTN and Immaculate Heart radio. Not to mention all the Catholics who got on board with 40 Days for Life and show up rain or shine in front of abortuaries with their rosaries in hand. I hope Joe doesn’t think we should resort to other means, I’m not stooping to the level that the pro-aborts constantly accuse us of.
Ninek,
My parish does a monthly protest. We start with the rosary and prayer at church, walk to the local PP, pray, walk back, and attend mass. I think that Joe, unfortunately, is speaking about a subject which is over his head, and is also making the grave mistake of underestimating the power of prayer!